Colonel Sanders’ ‘Eras Tour’ Appearance Cleverly Kicks off KFC Canada’s Latest Deal

It’s safe to say that across the past few months, the Taylor Swift buzz has been boiling over in Toronto. Subway stations are draped in banners promoting her ‘Eras Tour’. Several downtown streets have been renamed to form the amalgamated ‘Taylor Swift Way’. And fans from across the country have been pouring into the city… that is, if they even managed to secure an elusive ticket to one of her six shows. 

This isn’t just the reaction any old pop star would receive. It takes a cultural icon to garner this much attention, and it seems like right now, everyone wants a piece of the action – whether it’s to promote, go wild, or demonstrate why they’re the number one fan.

Unfortunately, with regards to the latter option, it appears the competition has been cut out. After all, it’s very hard to rival the fact that on Thursday November 14th, the one and only Colonel Sanders showed his fearless side – stepping forth as one of the ‘Swifties’. 

Kicking off the unforgettable night with a pre-concert ritual alongside the one and only Chris Olsen, who adorned the Colonel with custom friendship bracelets and decorated his concert sign (fine complements to his sparkly bolo tie), the buzz and anticipation only built through the night as the Colonel could be seen on the floor dancing, cheering and revelling in the atmosphere amidst the crowd. 

“We teamed up with Chris Olsen for this campaign because he’s one of the biggest fans out there and a natural at connecting with people,” says Jordan Sequeira, brand manager at KFC Canada. “His excitement and authenticity made him the perfect partner to help us engage with fans in a way that felt real. The partnership came together so naturally – Chris’ fandom and his ability to engage his audience was the perfect match for our goal of bringing Colonel Sanders into this cultural moment."

However, the moustachioed purveyor of chicken didn’t stop there. Eager to give Taylor (and the visiting fans) a warm welcome on behalf of KFC Canada, he took things to the next level by announcing – from the front row, of course – that, as his sign declared, ‘I made a meal just for you’.

A testament to the fact that, in order to celebrate this momentous occasion, KFC had announced a new, limited-edition order, the crowd reaction was wild. Fans were stopping to take photos, trade bracelets and share the moment online. After all, it’s not every day you see Colonel Sanders at a concert. And the prospect of some fried chicken after a night of screaming one’s lungs out on the concert floor is certainly a prospect which sparks joy.

Titled ‘Combo 13’, this new offering plays off Taylor Swift’s well-known love of crispy tenders (specifically paired with one ketchup and one infamous ‘seemingly ranch’), to create a special pairing for stans across the country. With each limited edition box rebranded with friendship bracelets as a tribute to the concert’s signature style, it’s the perfect chance for fans everywhere – whether they attended the event or not – to eat like their idol. 

“We saw this as a chance to create a moment that goes beyond the menu,” adds Jordan. “Combo 13 is our way of celebrating a cultural moment while adding to the fan experience. This launch blends our heritage with what’s happening now, creating a memorable, one-of-a-kind connection that brings fans closer to the excitement in a way only KFC Canada can.”

While this isn’t the first time Colonel Sanders has shown up for an unexpected cultural moment, combining this with the natural entry point of the fandom surrounding chicken tenders, ketchup and ‘seemingly ranch’ perfectly embodies agency of representation Courage Inc.’s ethos with regards to the brand. 

“Our goal has always been to find meaningful ways to bring KFC into culture, and ‘Combo 13’ was the perfect opportunity to do just that,” note Hemal Dhanjee and Steve Ierullo, creative directors at Courage. “With one of the most iconic brand assets in the world, Colonel Sanders, we were able to connect with fans on a human level and insert the brand into culture in a way no one else can."

Of course, the campaign was more than just an execution and promotional deal. With support from Narrative PR, this bold marketing strategy is further supplemented by a series of digital out-of-home and in-store print ads across Toronto and Vancouver (Taylor Swift’s two Canadian performance destinations), as well as social media support – all of which will run through to mid-December. 

“We love helping brands connect with culture in ways that feel personal, relevant, and real,” continues Joel Holtby, co-CCO of Courage Inc. “This campaign really captures that spirit – blending KFC’s iconic legacy with a global phenomenon that fans can’t get enough of. Plus, Colonel Sanders has always been about making unexpected connections, and we’re proud to bring that spirit to life.”

“For us, success is not just about the numbers – it’s about creating moments that fans genuinely connect with,” concludes Jordan. “From the combo itself (‘Original Recipe Tenders’, ketchup, ‘seemingly ranch’, and all) paired with the Colonel’s unforgettable appearance, KFC didn’t just show up as a brand capitalising on the moment, we added to the experience. The energy and excitement we’re still seeing proves we contributed to the moment in a way that feels fun and authentic, without it ever feeling like a sales pitch. It was all about creating something that thoughtfully resonated with the fans, and the response shows we nailed it.”